Here are a few templates to get you started with some tiny paper piecing. For our QuiltCon charity quilt project, the blocks will be 3 1/2" square. Your blocks can be any pattern, as long as they use the fabrics we have chosen in the colors required by the National MQG.
Here’s the pattern for our Birthday Block Lottery.
Use a solid color for your background (fabrics that read as solid, like Moda Grunge are also OK). There aren’t really any points to match, so just press all seams to the dark side.
Cutting:
Fabric A
(1) 3x6 rectangle
Fabric B
(2) 1.25 squares
(1) 2.5x3 rectangles
(2) 2.5x8 rectangles
Fabric C
(2) 1.25 squares
(1) 2.5x 7
(2) 2.5x10
Background Fabric
(2) 2.25 squares
(2) 2.5x10 rectangles
(1) 2.5x15 rectangle
1. Pin the 1¼ in squares in fabric B to the corner of the 3x6 rectangle (fabric A) right sides together as shown and sew diagonally across each square. Trim away excess to ¼ inch.
2. Sew the 2.5x3 rectangle in fabric B right sides together across the top.
3. Sew the 2.5x8 rectangles in fabric B to each side.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 (snowballed corners, top, side) with fabric C .
5. Pin 2.25 in. squares in background color to top corners as shown and sew diagonally across each square. Trim excess to ¼ inch.
5. Sew 2.5x10 in. rectangles in background color to each side as shown in diagram.
6. Sew 2.5x15 in. rectangle across top.
Final block should measure about 15x12 (but we’re not picky).
Bring your completed block (or blocks) to the May meeting.
Sunday, January 21, 2018
Our first meeting of the new year will be Saturday January 27th at 10:00 AM. Hope to see you all there!
Below is a list of key dates for 2018. Unless otherwise noted, monthly meetings are 10:00 Am to noon at A&E Fabric and Crafts, 923 N. New Warrington Rd., Pensacola, FL 32506. Sew Bee It is held from 5:00 until 8:30(ish) PM in the classroom at Joann Fabrics, 6601 N. Davis Highway #25, Pensacola, FL 32504.
General Meeting:
January 27th
Feb. 24th
March 24th
April 28th - Off Site (more information coming soon)
The 3D Snowflake was the program this month. It was presented and demonstrated by Yvonne (VP Social Media.) It is a fun holiday no sew project that anyone can do. You can find the whole demonstration below on youtube. They are fun and easy decorations for the holidays. It only takes about 45 minutes to complete. It is great to do with family or friends. This is the perfect way to familiarize yourself with heat bond. Heat bond is also great to use in your applique projects.
Designer Highlight
Anna Maria Horner was the designer highlight. She makes beautiful, bold, and modern fabrics. She also has been focusing on her embroidery. The video below gives you a short background of her life and inspirations.
Elections are happening soon. We will be taking nominations for all positions until November 25th. The vote will be going out via google forms by emails to members Nov 27th-Dec. 4th. Please feel free to nominate by email at Pensacolamqg@gmail.com for any position that you are interested in doing. We will announce the new board members at the December meeting.
Block Lottery
The Christmas tree blocksare going to be accepted until December. You can find the tutorial here
Christmas Party
December 17th is our Christmas Party. We will be doing a fun game of passing presents. If you would like to participate, it will be a 10.00 gift of any kind. It doesn't have to be quilting related, and it can be handmade. You don't have to participate. It is just for fun. Also, we will be doing a Potluck. So, bring a fun holiday dish and include your recipe if you would like to share it.
Quiltcon Charity Quilt
We should have all our blocks for the Quiltcon Charity Quilt. A bunch of the members stayed after the November meeting to get to work on it. Thank you for your efforts. I am thinking of a sew day in December. I will email and post what that date will be to try and finish the quilt top. If anyone would like to volunteer to quilt or bind, please send us an email at the Pensacolamqg@gmail.com. Any help would be appreciated. The due date to send quilt to Savannah is Feb 10th. Sorry for the lack of pictures on our top secret project. Pictures coming soon...
January and February Meetings
January 28st and February 18th meetings will be held in the
Pensacola Downtown Public Library
239 N Spring St, Pensacola, FL 32502
Meeting times will be 11 a.m. - 1p.m.
As always, we would love to have you come and visit. The first two meetings are free. January will start next year's membership. I look forward to seeing you all at the next meeting. Bring something to show us at show and tell. We love seeing your work. Betty is always accepting charity quilts as well to take to Favor House.
Betty (our Secretary) got the guild interactive with her color value program. It was excellent moving the fabrics around and seeing how the eye can trick you into thinking you have the right color value placement. A quick black and white photo reveals the true low to high color value. Value is a great foundation to any modern quilt. It can make your quilts pop. The lack of low and high value can make the quilt blend together and you can lose block definition.
Designer Highlight
This month we talked about Victoria Findlay Wolfe and everything that she brings to modern quilting. She is known for many different things. One being her fabulous curve piecing. She has a youtube channel where she instructs on modern quilting. She works with Sixxiz to make templates. She also has a book 15 minutes of play.
It is election time. If you would like to nominate for any position, we encourage you to do so. This could be a wonderful experience for you and the guild. Bring your ideas and vision for the future of the guild. We need the basic board member positions to be filled to continue on as a guild in the new year. Please email your nomination or whoever you think would be interested in a position to Pensacolamqg@ gmail.com. We will be voting between the November and December meetings.
Block Lottery
You loved the Christmas trees from last year so much that we brought them back again. The tutorial is linked below. The winner will receive them with plenty of time to make a quilt or something nice for the holidays.
After the meeting, we will be sewing the Quiltcon Charity Quilt together. We will have the room until 3:00. You can bring your machine to sew. You can help with placement, ironing, or cutting. If you want to just stay and be apart of the action, you are welcome to do that as well. We are doing a potluck as well. So bring a nice dish too.
We always welcome you to come and join us. This month the meeting is November 19th. So, be sure to mark it on your calendars. Don't forget to bring a quilt or whatever you are working on and share it during show and tell.
The October meeting had two small programs. Betty did a wonderful technique with raw edge applique (example below by Shirley) , and Beth showed us mod blocks by Elizabeth Haugh, pattern found here. Both of these are amazing modern techniques that can be used in any quilt, and they are great scrap busters.
Shirley's applique example
Elizabeth Haugh's Mod blocks photo.
Designer Highlight
While Suzie and Yvonne were at the Crafty Gemini Epic Quilt Retreat, the guild was learning about the Crafty Gemini, and Vanessa's influence in modern quilting. She has a great youtube channel, a new fabric line, and she is a wonderful at teaching techniques in quilting, sewing clothes, and crafting that are great for all skill levels. She also has a bag of the month club. She makes quilting fun and easy with a modern flair.
There's been talk of making a block of the month quilt. We really enjoy bringing you modern blocks and new techniques every month. Below is a great example of a skill builder.
Also, the Eastern Sunrise block was shown, you can find the free pattern here to build on your paper piecing skills that Becky showed us a couple months ago.
Charity Quilts
Betty, our Secretary, takes donations that you give of quilts and pillowcases to Favor House. We want to thank you for your wonderful support. Great job, ladies!
This month, Becky gave a great power point presentation on Carolyn Friedlander. Carolyn is a modern fabric and pattern designer, as well as an author. Becky, our current president this year, has set a goal to focus on one modern designer to highlight each month. Modern quilting and fabric is always changing, so highlighting these designers gives our members a very good picture of modern quilting.
Betty, our secretary, also chairs our charity sewing for Favor House in Pensacola. This organization helps women and their children who have need a safe place to stay when they have to leave their homes due to domestic violence. Betty accepts donations of quilts from baby to twin bed size and takes them to Favor House, frequently. If you'd like to donate any quilts for this cause, please see Betty. The website for Favor House is: http://www.favorhouse.org/
Betty (Secretary and chair of charity quilts) on Right with Liz (member) Left.
These are 16 quilts to be donated.
Member Discussion
Becky also led a wonderful member discussion. We discussed some different ideas about how to continue the block lottery in a way that will encourage as much member participation as possible. Many members liked the idea of incorporating a skill building series, and a block of the month quilt along. During the following month, please think about what skills you'd like the guild to cover, ideas for blocks, and any block of the month ideas that you have for suggestions. Next month, bring your ideas, patterns, books, etc. to the meeting for further discussion.
Juliette, our librarian, is asking for donations for the library of quilting books. We all have accumulated extra quilting books! Please consider going through your collection and donating the books that you no longer use to help expand our library.
Elections for next year's officers will be held in November.
We have 5 officer positions: President, Vice President (Social Media), Vice President (Membership), Treasurer and Secretary. Any member can run or be nominated for any of these 5 positions. We encourage you to get involved and put your personal touch on the next year. Our officers work together with our committee chairs and members to keep our guild strong and fun! We've already been having some wonderful discussions about block lottery for next year, we can choose to keep the modern quilt designer's going, or we can dive into modern techniques, quilt challenges, or many other great opportunities. Our guild is about teamwork, so don't be afraid to jump right in!
All the current board members will be here to assist in the transition process for the new officers. We will be here for support as the newly elected member can learn the ropes, and we will all be available for any questions that arise during the next year. If you have any inclination towards these positions, please feel free to ask us what we do. You can self nominate, or you can make suggestions to us of whom you think would be good in the position, and we will contact that person to see if she is interested in running. I've also attached the guild's bylaws which give descriptions for each officer and committee position. Keep in mind that while some parts of what is listed is required, some of the descriptions are meant as possibilities.
Our current officers, Becky (President), Yvonne (VP Social Media), Donna (Membership),Suzie (Treasurer), and Betty(Secretary)
Becky, Donna, and Yvonne, our guild's founders, have strived to create a foundation for this guild to grow upon. Once our first elected officers came on board, they along with our members help to even further the ground work to make it easy for the future elected officers. We as individual board members have taken on certain tasks that are not requiredof our position. Becky brings you designer highlights and her wonderful in depth newsletter. Donna has helped with welcoming committee,quilts of valor, also taking on Integrity and greeting you all at the meetings. Betty has taken on Charity quilts and shares the benefits of the MQG has to offer. Suzie has taken on Hearts for Pulse, birthday fat quarters, swaps, and photos. Becky and Yvonne have put on personal presentations and work together on programs. Other board members and regular members continue to take care of many other aspects of the guild. All areas are important to the greater whole.
What would you like to do as a board member?
By-laws have been added in a separate tab for you to look over. Our roster has been newly updated by Donna and sent via email. It can also be found in our Facebook file tab. If you are a member, but do not have email or facebook, please contact us via email at pensacolamqg@gmail.com, and we will be glad to send you a copy by regular mail.
